The Commanders’ offensive line features some questions ahead of Jayden Daniels‘ rookie season. Midlevel veteran free agents are in place at multiple spots, and a rookie third-round pick is set to debut at left tackle. But the team answered one long-term question Wednesday.
Sam Cosmi will be signed beyond 2024, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. The team’s right guard agreed to terms on a four-year extension, locking in the converted tackle through the 2028 season.
This will only be Cosmi’s second full season at guard. Washington used the 2021 second-round pick primarily at right tackle during the first two seasons, moving him inside in 2023. Cosmi played well at his second NFL spot, and the team’s new regime will take notice. Cosmi will be the only Ron Rivera-era draft choice set to line up for Washington’s starting O-line in Week 1. The rest of the group includes free agency additions (Andrew Wylie, Tyler Biadasz, Nick Allegretti) and third-round rookie Brandon Coleman.
Pro Football Focus slotted Cosmi fourth overall among guards in 2023, reminding this positional switch of Teven Jenkins‘. The latter has been a much better guard for the Bears compared to his tackle work. Despite one less season at guard, Cosmi will beat his 2021 second-round classmate to the extension punch.
Cosmi, 25, started all 17 Washington games last season; he entered the 2023 campaign with 15 career starts. PFF also deemed Cosmi an effective tackle, but the Commanders kicked him inside after signing Wylie. Cosmi’s run blocking has stood out thus far, and the Commanders will count on the former Texas Longhorn in that department again this season.
PFF graded the Commanders’ O-line 24th last season, and the team made some changes. Peters’ regime cut left tackle Charles Leno and center Nick Gates, with those funds helping the team as it added both Biadasz and Allegretti. At $10M per year, Biadasz entered the week as the Commanders’ highest-paid O-lineman. However, the terms of Cosmi’s deal should be expected to change that.
Washington chose Cosmi 51st overall in 2021 in the first draft in which Rivera collaborated with then-GM Martin Mayhew. The latter remains with Washington as an advisor to new GM Adam Peters. The two worked together in San Francisco. Mayhew remaining in place may have helped Cosmi’s cause, as the Commanders spent most of their offseason funds on free agents instead of extensions.
